Mama/Dada

She has the words. She can say mama. She can say dada. She just rarely uses them in context. But she has other words. HiKi is Kitty cat (we say "hi kitty" so I think she thinks that it's one straight word - hiki), and she'll say it when she sees the cat. She says hi and byebye correctly. She says Mi-Mi for excuse me and Na-na for night night or to tell me she's tired (she'll put her head on my lap and say na-na). She can say ball, and this past weekend DH said "hey you!" to her and she said it back. He repeated it a couple of times, and she said it back all the time.

So I know she has words. I know she can put them in context. It's more like she's stubborn about it.

But I haven't heard her call me mama directly in a couple of months. It makes me sad. I try and prompt her to say it and she'll just laugh at me, but if I say hi, or ball or something else she'll say that back.

So I don't think she's lost the words. It's just that she won't say them to me. And only those two specifically!

I feel like DD just won't call me mama or DH dada.

She has the words. She can say mama. She can say dada. She just rarely uses them in context. But she has other words. HiKi is Kitty cat (we say "hi kitty" so I think she thinks that it's one straight word - hiki), and she'll say it when she sees the cat. She says hi and byebye correctly. She says Mi-Mi for excuse me and Na-na for night night or to tell me she's tired (she'll put her head on my lap and say na-na). She can say ball, and this past weekend DH said "hey you!" to her and she said it back. He repeated it a couple of times, and she said it back all the time.

So I know she has words. I know she can put them in context. It's more like she's stubborn about it.

But I haven't heard her call me mama directly in a couple of months. It makes me sad. I try and prompt her to say it and she'll just laugh at me, but if I say hi, or ball or something else she'll say that back.

So I don't think she's lost the words. It's just that she won't say them to me. And only those two specifically!

we have the same problem with our DS. he gabs--a LOT. and he says "bubba" for his new baby brother. he also says "hi" and "nah nah" (when he's tired) and "dah" (down) and i'm fairly certain he was saying "ween oh" (window) the other day. he DEFINITELY says mama and dada, but not really sure he knows what he's saying. we try and try and tryyyy to get him to associate the words with our faces, but no luck.

can't say that i'm able to offer any words of advice, but you are not alone!

we have the same problem with our DS. he gabs--a LOT. and he says "bubba" for his new baby brother. he also says "hi" and "nah nah" (when he's tired) and "dah" (down) and i'm fairly certain he was saying "ween oh" (window) the other day. he DEFINITELY says mama and dada, but not really sure he knows what he's saying. we try and try and tryyyy to get him to associate the words with our faces, but no luck.

can't say that i'm able to offer any words of advice, but you are not alone!

I'm so glad you posted this! My LO isn't talking much & with some of the stuff people post on here about what their LO's are saying, I've been getting a little worried. She'll say "hi" but mostly it's only when she first sees you-hard to get her to verbal volley (well, in that she'll only do it in her terms and those times are minimal!). She'll say baba for bottle. That's it as far as functional words. She's been saying mama & dada for a while but not functionally. Plus, she's just kinda quiet. Very interactive, social & we joke that she doesn't talk bc she can do it thru her facial expressions alone-but still not much of a big babbler. I used to do therapy for kids with autism so I've been pulling out all the tricks to encourage talking. I think it's helping her spontaneous babble but too soon to see if it's helping overall. I'm not too worried (yet) but I would definitely say I'm jealous of everyone with talkers out there! :)

I'm so glad you posted this! My LO isn't talking much & with some of the stuff people post on here about what their LO's are saying, I've been getting a little worried. She'll say "hi" but mostly it's only when she first sees you-hard to get her to verbal volley (well, in that she'll only do it in her terms and those times are minimal!). She'll say baba for bottle. That's it as far as functional words. She's been saying mama & dada for a while but not functionally. Plus, she's just kinda quiet. Very interactive, social & we joke that she doesn't talk bc she can do it thru her facial expressions alone-but still not much of a big babbler. I used to do therapy for kids with autism so I've been pulling out all the tricks to encourage talking. I think it's helping her spontaneous babble but too soon to see if it's helping overall. I'm not too worried (yet) but I would definitely say I'm jealous of everyone with talkers out there! :)

My guy isn't much of a talker either. He has said lots of words but they never really "stick". The thing is though I know he knows who is mama and dada are. And today when I said "go give this to nanny" he walked right over to her so I know he is starting to be able to really differentiate people. He occasionally will say mama or dada but it is few and far between but I think they just don't realize how badly we want to hear it out maybe they do and they are all little stinkers. I just wouldn't worry about it because soon enough you will have a stewie on your hands ie "mom, mom, mom, mommy, mom, mom, mommy" lol

My guy isn't much of a talker either. He has said lots of words but they never really "stick". The thing is though I know he knows who is mama and dada are. And today when I said "go give this to nanny" he walked right over to her so I know he is starting to be able to really differentiate people. He occasionally will say mama or dada but it is few and far between but I think they just don't realize how badly we want to hear it out maybe they do and they are all little stinkers. I just wouldn't worry about it because soon enough you will have a stewie on your hands ie "mom, mom, mom, mommy, mom, mom, mommy" lol

I probably need to relax a bit about it. I've heard that kids are talkers or walkers. DD walked at 11 months. So maybe she was focusing on that. One of her little friends in daycare didn't walk till close to 15 months, but in the meantime, she's a little chatterbox with all of her words.

Plus I hear 18-20 months is when the real language explosion happens, right?

We can add another word to the mix - or combo. All gone (can't tell which she is saying). She said it twice yesterday when she was done with her dinner.

But still no mama!

I probably need to relax a bit about it. I've heard that kids are talkers or walkers. DD walked at 11 months. So maybe she was focusing on that. One of her little friends in daycare didn't walk till close to 15 months, but in the meantime, she's a little chatterbox with all of her words.

Plus I hear 18-20 months is when the real language explosion happens, right?

We can add another word to the mix - or combo. All gone (can't tell which she is saying). She said it twice yesterday when she was done with her dinner.

I think you're right about the walkers vs. talkers. Sonnie walked at 10 mos & can (is not allowed to but technically CAN) crawl up & down a flight of stairs on her own. DH showed her once how to safely get herself off the couch & she did it. She wows me all the time with her physical abilities. The more I think about it, all that physical stimulation probably takes some from the verbal. No wonder they're barely talking! :)

I think you're right about the walkers vs. talkers. Sonnie walked at 10 mos & can (is not allowed to but technically CAN) crawl up & down a flight of stairs on her own. DH showed her once how to safely get herself off the couch & she did it. She wows me all the time with her physical abilities. The more I think about it, all that physical stimulation probably takes some from the verbal. No wonder they're barely talking! :)

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